Jeep Prepares to Recall New Wranglers Over Frame-Weld Defect

[TerryMason]

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV is preparing to recall about 18,000 Jeep Wranglers because of a faulty weld in the frame of the popular sport utility vehicle that can cause a sudden crash.


The automaker will begin the recall before the end of the year, according to a dealer notice posted Friday on a Wrangler owner forum that was confirmed by the company. Some vehicles have a faulty weld on the front track bar, which keeps the axles centered. That can allow the bar to separate from the frame and interfere with the steering, “which can cause a vehicle crash without prior warning,” according to the notice.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...o-recall-new-wranglers-over-frame-weld-defect

 

[TerryMason]

I tend to agree that the front track bar separating from the frame would "interfere with the steering" :shock:

 

[Gennybro]

Oh Boy that's not good .

 

[southtj]

This really makes FCA looks bad. I mean, I understand it's the first year of a new model but I saw some pictures where the weld missed the piece it was trying to weld completely. It was maybe an eight of an inch too high. That no one caught this is incredible. Hopefully they will resolve it quickly.

 

[JPNinPA]

Here is an image from Jalopnik

JPNinPA
Using Jeepz.com app

 

[TerryMason]

How dealers will fix this problem:

To prep the outboard weld to be repaired by the weld specialist, dealers are asked to disconnect the battery before lifting the Jeep, remove the left front wheel, undo the track bar nut and bolt shown above, and then take the track bar off of the poorly-welded bracket on the frame.


From there, Fiat Chrysler says its “Technical Weld Specialist will perform the repair on the outboard weld.” There are no further details on how exactly the specialist will conduct the fix, but clearly the job will involve welding that bracket back onto the frame somehow. Fiat Chrysler told me via email simply: “Weld will be made to comply with specs.”


Once the weld specialist’s job is done, dealers will bolt the track bar back onto the frame (with a new nut and bolt), throw the wheel back on, lower the Jeep, torque down the track bar nut to spec, and then give the vehicle back to the customer. That is, unless the inboard weld also needs to be fixed.


From Jalopnik

 

[JPNinPA]

They are not going to reconnect the battery?


Regards,
JPNinPA

Sent using TapTalk

 

[Gennybro]

Not on their job description.